As the American Psychoanalytic Association faces mounting external pressures that threaten its very survival, its leadership and members appear increasingly preoccupied with issues of internal governance and training standards. This inward gazing, though in keeping with analysts' personality and occupational traits, serves to obscure and defend against the anxieties associated with threats from the surround. Such maladaptive defensive activity contributes to organizational stagnation, dysfunctional conservatism, and a “fear of trying.” Suggestions to combat this self-defeating behavior are offered.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Blamphin, J. (2003). Strategic Marketing Initiative. Report to the American Psychoanalytic Association, March 21, 2003.
2.
Cooper, A.M. (2004). Letter to the editor. The American Psychoanalyst38:27.
3.
Eisold, K. (1994). The intolerance of diversity in psychoanalytic institutes. International Journal of Psychoanalysis75:785—800.
4.
Fischer, N. (2004). State of the Association. Report to the American Psychoanalytic Association winter meeting, New York, January.
5.
Jacques, E. (1955). Social systems as a defense against persecutory and depressive anxiety. In New Directions in Psychoanalysis , ed. M. Klein, P. Heimann, & R.E. Money-Kyrle.London: Tavistock, pp. 478—498.
6.
Kernberg, O.F. (2000). A concerned critique of psychoanalytic education . International Journal of Psychoanalysis81:97—120.
7.
Levy, S.T. (2004). Our literature. Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association52:5—9.
8.
Menzies, E. (1967). The Functioning of Social Systems as Defense against Anxiety. London: Tavistock.
